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Question: My bonsai tree will not grow!?

(Posted by: Hannah on 2010-03-11 05:26:35)

In Septemeber I got a Bonsai tree as a gift, and brought it to university with me, the leaves shed but then grew back within a few days and was a fantastic green colour, now the tree has lost it's leaves because I forgot to water it on a few occasions, I have started to feed him bonsai tree food once a week and have gotten in to a good routine watering him, however he still has no leaves and has moss or mold growing near the roots... please help!

Posted by: thegubmint on 2010-03-11, 06:45:08

Unfortunately, it sounds like it's dead. You don't say what kind of tree it is, but I'm guessing it's a Juniper. If it's brittle and the branches snap off, it's dead. You can try scratching the main trunk to see if that's green. If it is, there may be hope, but usually, once a Bonsai goes south, it's gone. Don't feel bad, I've been doing Bonsai for about 20 years. I spent the first 5 killing just about everything I tried. One other thing. Just about all Bonsai's you get as gifts will die. They are mass produced with little care or technique. When I see them in stores, usually 4 out of 5 are either already dead, or on their way. If you're going to buy one pre-made, buy it from an actual Bonsai source or a nursery that has good quality Bonsai specimens.

Posted by: Watch Dawg on 2010-03-11, 05:35:11

It's sounds like you may be giving it to much water and food. You may know they grow very, very slow. You have to have a LOT of patience to grow a Bonsai tree.

Posted by: Duke on 2010-03-11, 05:35:54

Break off a tip of one of the branches, If it snaps real easy and the wood is dry then your plant is dead. If it is difficault to snap a tip off and it bends instead, then you may still have life in the plant. Sometimes a large part of the plant will die off so keep the soil moist and give it the proper lighting and you may see new growth emerging from the rootball. After a month of no growth, you can then call it a lost cause.